"We cannot stand idly by while local citizens are expelled from the housing market in the places where they were born or where they want to build a life. Therefore, next year we will present a new legislative proposal on short-term rentals," announced the European Commissioner for Housing, Dan Jørgensen, alluding to a mechanism to assist local authorities, as this is a national and local competence.

"It will not be a ban, [but] the proposal will help define areas with housing pressure [and this] will allow local authorities to promote affordable housing in their cities and regions and take proportionate measures to address the negative impacts of short-term rentals," he said.

The commissioner was speaking to the Lusa news agency and other European media on the day he presented a plan to increase affordable housing in the European Union (EU), the first of its kind at the community level, which includes limits on short-term rentals.